CONFIDENTIAL
OCMIAN 7132
CONFIDENTIAL
OO HOKON
FM FCOLN TO HOKON
131625Z JAN
GRS 768
нки cuoly
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
15 JAN 1986
VERY OFFICER
!M. LA
PA
REGISTRY Action Taken,
7132
1
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 85
OF 131625Z JANUARY 86
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
72
YOUR TELNO 68: WHITE PAPER ON DRAFT NATIONALITY ORDER
1.
AT THE MEETING ON 9 JANUARY WITH HOME OFFICE MINISTERS IT
WAS DECIDED THAT IT WOULD NOT BE RIGHT FOR HMG TO MAKE ANY FORMAL
AND FINAL REPLY TO THE PROPOSALS IN MISS DUNN'S LETTER EITHER BEFORE OR DURING THE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE ON 16 JANUARY. SINCE
THE PURPOSE OF THIS DEBATE IS TO LISTEN TO VIEWS EXPRESSED IN PARLIAMENT ON THE DRAFT ORDER, MINISTERS' PRIME PURPOSE SHOULD BE TO DO THAT, AND THEN TO LEAVE TIME TO CONSIDER THESE VIEWS. AS YOU KNOW MINISTERS HAVE UNDERTAKEN, HAVING HEARD THE VIEWS OF MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, TO CONSIDER WHETHER ANY AMENDMENT TO THE
DRAFT ORDER IS NECESSARY BEFORE PRESENTING IT FORMALLY TO
PARLIAMENT.
2.
MINISTERS ARE HOWEVER LIKELY IN THE DEBATE TO POINT OUT
SOME OF THE DIFFICULTIES INVOLVED IN MISS DUNN'S PROPOSALS.
3.
IT WOULD CLEARLY NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR ANY RESPONSE TO
THE PROPOSALS TO BE ANNOUNCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BEFORE
THE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE TAKES PLACE. YOU COULD HOWEVER EXPLAIN
THAT MINISTERS ARE FULLY SEIZED OF THE STRENGTH OF FEELING WHICH LIES BEHIND THESE PROPOSALS, AND WILL BE CONSIDERING THEM
SERIOUSLY. THEY WILL OF COURSE ALSO WISH TO LISTEN TO VIEWS
EXPRESSED IN PARLIAMENT ON THEM.
1
CONFIDENTIAL
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